If we had gotten Ott and/or King like MTL did, we'd be in much better shape. I watched part of the game on Saturday and MTL just seemed bigger all around. They looked like they can make the ECF with their makeup and style of play in the bracket they'll be in. After Saturday I bet their begging for the NYR in the first round.

MTL gave up a 6th Rd pick for Ott and a 4th Round (conditional) pick for King.

Maybe the Rangers intended on bringing up Glass all along. Or at least wanted to see what would happen in the few games after the deadline.

AV was also smart signing his extension right before the other teams started playing playoff style hockey.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda. Didn't. This is on coach. He publicly stated he liked his team before the deadline. No attempt was made all season to address a lack of grit. Instead played his lightweights on the fourth line who at the end of the day had very few bright spots. Coach just can't get it into his head how hard it is to come up with a fourth line that's going to give you some offensive production. In fact he's never going to get it. It's why teams have fourth lines that can bang and crash, and if they can do it against the other teams top two lines, without goals against, then that is golden.
Team AV now must rely on his Plan A to supply toughness if needed.
Unlike others on here that want to watch Pumpeul, and Pirri skating circles and getting knocked around, I'd far rather see a guy like Glass who has his teammates best interests at heart. Welcome back Tanner Glass, it's not you fault, the Rangers didn't address a issue a three year old could spot.

If we had gotten Ott and/or King like MTL did, we'd be in much better shape. I watched part of the game on Saturday and MTL just seemed bigger all around. They looked like they can make the ECF with their makeup and style of play in the bracket they'll be in. After Saturday I bet their begging for the NYR in the first round.

MTL gave up a 6th Rd pick for Ott and a 4th Round (conditional) pick for King.

Maybe the Rangers intended on bringing up Glass all along. Or at least wanted to see what would happen in the few games after the deadline.

AV was also smart signing his extension right before the other teams started playing playoff style hockey.

Just an honest question here.....if we got both of those guys, are we a cup contender? Don't tell me about other things....I want an answer focused on these two specific players.

If we had gotten Ott and/or King like MTL did, we'd be in much better shape. I watched part of the game on Saturday and MTL just seemed bigger all around. They looked like they can make the ECF with their makeup and style of play in the bracket they'll be in. After Saturday I bet their begging for the NYR in the first round.

MTL gave up a 6th Rd pick for Ott and a 4th Round (conditional) pick for King.

Maybe the Rangers intended on bringing up Glass all along. Or at least wanted to see what would happen in the few games after the deadline.

AV was also smart signing his extension right before the other teams started playing playoff style hockey.

Just an honest question here.....if we got both of those guys, are we a cup contender? Don't tell me about other things....I want an answer focused on these two specific players.

On paper we're a cup contender now. But we are all skill and no grit. I had convinced myself for the first half of the season that the team they have now is good enough. Seeing how they've been pushed around has changed my perception of this team. Seeing how another playoff team can effectively game plan around their speed now has also altered my opinion. In hindsight, and I admit hindsight sucks, we could have / should have tried to deal for at least one of these guys. They were playing in the NHL, Glass was not. I would have tried to move Stepan to move up one of the skilled 4th liners up to fill that void while we toughen up the 4th line.

I will still be rooting for them. I will still respect every player than wears that uniform. I just won't be surprised when we're knocked out early again.

At least we're not playing at home the next 4 games. Maybe that's the problem, at home they are trying to put on a show and on the road their trying to win some games.

If we had gotten Ott and/or King like MTL did, we'd be in much better shape. I watched part of the game on Saturday and MTL just seemed bigger all around. They looked like they can make the ECF with their makeup and style of play in the bracket they'll be in. After Saturday I bet their begging for the NYR in the first round.

MTL gave up a 6th Rd pick for Ott and a 4th Round (conditional) pick for King.

Maybe the Rangers intended on bringing up Glass all along. Or at least wanted to see what would happen in the few games after the deadline.

AV was also smart signing his extension right before the other teams started playing playoff style hockey.

Just an honest question here.....if we got both of those guys, are we a cup contender? Don't tell me about other things....I want an answer focused on these two specific players.

On paper we're a cup contender now. But we are all skill and no grit. I had convinced myself for the first half of the season that the team they have now is good enough. Seeing how they've been pushed around has changed my perception of this team. Seeing how another playoff team can effectively game plan around their speed now has also altered my opinion. In hindsight, and I admit hindsight sucks, we could have / should have tried to deal for at least one of these guys. They were playing in the NHL, Glass was not. I would have tried to move Stepan to move up one of the skilled 4th liners up to fill that void while we toughen up the 4th line.

I will still be rooting for them. I will still respect every player than wears that uniform. I just won't be surprised when we're knocked out early again.

At least we're not playing at home the next 4 games. Maybe that's the problem, at home they are trying to put on a show and on the road their trying to win some games.

And just realized I didn't answer your direct honest question... if we got both of those guys, are we a cup contender?... I think we would be in a little better shape. Why I've always loved hockey above all other sports is the heart these guys have. Over the last 8-9 games, the heart has not been beating like it was earlier in the season. Trading for one or both of these guys and letting go of one or two of the longer timers would have hopefully serve as a wake up call for the remaining players and inject a little amphetamine in their hearts.

If we had gotten Ott and/or King like MTL did, we'd be in much better shape. I watched part of the game on Saturday and MTL just seemed bigger all around. They looked like they can make the ECF with their makeup and style of play in the bracket they'll be in. After Saturday I bet their begging for the NYR in the first round.

MTL gave up a 6th Rd pick for Ott and a 4th Round (conditional) pick for King.

Maybe the Rangers intended on bringing up Glass all along. Or at least wanted to see what would happen in the few games after the deadline.

AV was also smart signing his extension right before the other teams started playing playoff style hockey.

Just an honest question here.....if we got both of those guys, are we a cup contender? Don't tell me about other things....I want an answer focused on these two specific players.

They'd be closer to being one than they are now. That is hard to argue against, and it's the best that you can do at the deadline as a GM and coach.

“I don’t expect guys to go out and run guys through the walls and stuff like that. There is a way of playing hard without doing that. We have to play a physical game, but you don’t have to run guys through walls and have big hits and fight every single night. I would just call it a playoff-type mindset.”

Translation: We don't have those types of players to play a heavy, physical game, so we can't and we won't.

All they needed was one or two wingers for the 4th line and a nasty defenseman. And according to the modern pundits who preach non-violence as the future of the NHL (I am NOT referring to anyone on this board), those players are dirt cheap and should be easy to find. To drive the point home, the Habs gave away the equivalent of a bag of used pucks and some stale hot dogs to get Ott and King and Martinsen.

Coach Alain Vigneault called into question the “will” of his team after the loss to Atlantic Division-leading Montreal.

That's it, he's done. The players have stopped playing for him and he's now calling them out in the press. That's usually the beginning of the end for a coach. Can't happen soon enough. I've got the limo company on speed dial to take AV to the airport.

Coach Alain Vigneault called into question the “will” of his team after the loss to Atlantic Division-leading Montreal.

That's it, he's done. The players have stopped playing for him and he's now calling them out in the press. That's usually the beginning of the end for a coach. Can't happen soon enough. I've got the limo company on speed dial to take AV to the airport.

I agree...I think the players have tuned him out..They are not built to beat the big boys of the Conference...Gorton has work to do

To me, it doesn't matter who you bring on the team to give it "toughness". I believe toughness is a team concept....not just bringing in guys who just run players (which means they are constantly chasing the puck). Torts went with the toughness angle....and his teams banged, blocked shots like madmen, and gave up the body at every chance. Nice way to play, but reckless and unsustainable for all 60 minutes every game.

We went to a speed/finesse game....pretty to watch, certainly hard to contain.....but space is less available as the season ends, and the playoffs begin. I believe that went too far to this side.....with sacrificing the winning battles on the boards and forechecking relentlessly....also playing too passive in the defensive zone (not having to knock guys on their asses all the time....but just being in the lanes and not giving great looks to the opposition).

Bringing in two players....no matter what was given up for them.....wouldnt have mattered. This isn't a team that plays a system that they would have thrived in (and if the Habs kept Terrien, the same for them....Julien will use them as bashers, as that is his style).

What AV is missing is that you cant have a system that doesn't emphasize grinding/physical plan....then lament when it doesn't happen organically.

Coach Alain Vigneault called into question the “will” of his team after the loss to Atlantic Division-leading Montreal.

That's it, he's done. The players have stopped playing for him and he's now calling them out in the press. That's usually the beginning of the end for a coach. Can't happen soon enough. I've got the limo company on speed dial to take AV to the airport.

Coach Alain Vigneault called into question the “will” of his team after the loss to Atlantic Division-leading Montreal.

That's it, he's done. The players have stopped playing for him and he's now calling them out in the press. That's usually the beginning of the end for a coach. Can't happen soon enough. I've got the limo company on speed dial to take AV to the airport.

Please call me I will do it on da house.

Can i come with you? I want to ask AV why Benoit Pouliot took one bad penalty after the next when he was here...and never missed a shift...MSL was a liability on the ice...never missed a shift....JT Miller checks somebody in the corner...Gets benched

To me, it doesn't matter who you bring on the team to give it "toughness". I believe toughness is a team concept....not just bringing in guys who just run players (which means they are constantly chasing the puck). Torts went with the toughness angle....and his teams banged, blocked shots like madmen, and gave up the body at every chance. Nice way to play, but reckless and unsustainable for all 60 minutes every game.

We went to a speed/finesse game....pretty to watch, certainly hard to contain.....but space is less available as the season ends, and the playoffs begin. I believe that went too far to this side.....with sacrificing the winning battles on the boards and forechecking relentlessly....also playing too passive in the defensive zone (not having to knock guys on their asses all the time....but just being in the lanes and not giving great looks to the opposition).

Bringing in two players....no matter what was given up for them.....wouldnt have mattered. This isn't a team that plays a system that they would have thrived in (and if the Habs kept Terrien, the same for them....Julien will use them as bashers, as that is his style).

What AV is missing is that you cant have a system that doesn't emphasize grinding/physical plan....then lament when it doesn't happen organically.

I agree with everything you said here, except for one thing: Torts didn't have nearly the skill and scoring talent that AV has right now. AV has the luxury of rolling three skilled lines who actually have some size to play in the dirty areas. All AV needed to do was add some muscle to give this group some balance and some support, to back them up when things get nasty.

The frustration for me is that getting all this talent together is the HARD ****ing part. Adding some grit and muscle is an easy task in comparison. The Habs did it in one day for next to nothing in cost. And the stubborn mother****er seems to simply refuse to admit that his system is wrong and won't succeed.

Coach Alain Vigneault called into question the “will” of his team after the loss to Atlantic Division-leading Montreal.

That's it, he's done. The players have stopped playing for him and he's now calling them out in the press. That's usually the beginning of the end for a coach. Can't happen soon enough. I've got the limo company on speed dial to take AV to the airport.

Please call me I will do it on da house.

I call shotgun. And I'll carry his bags to the ticket counter, just to make sure he ****ing leaves.

No need to strain yourself, PV == I think I can come up with some "muscle" for the bags....that will leave you and me free for each of us to "gently" take hold of an arm and escort him to the boarding gate.

No need to strain yourself, PV == I think I can come up with some "muscle" for the bags....that will leave you and me free for each of us to "gently" take hold of an arm and escort him to the boarding gate.

Coach Alain Vigneault called into question the “will” of his team after the loss to Atlantic Division-leading Montreal.

That's it, he's done. The players have stopped playing for him and he's now calling them out in the press. That's usually the beginning of the end for a coach. Can't happen soon enough. I've got the limo company on speed dial to take AV to the airport.

Please call me I will do it on da house.

Can i come with you? I want to ask AV why Benoit Pouliot took one bad penalty after the next when he was here...and never missed a shift...MSL was a liability on the ice...never missed a shift....JT Miller checks somebody in the corner...Gets benched

You wait til summer, and see who's available. None of the four you mentioned imo, and there in lies the problem with dumping Vigneault, is a quality replacement. I don't think there are any Jon Cooper types in the AHL, guys who have done really well there, or any College stars. You look around the hockey world and proven winners the Ranger should be insisting on are not floating around.
Timing can be very important, Therien wasn't going anywhere because of a lack of a quality French Canadian replacement. That is until Claude Julien fell in their laps.

So all it took for the Rangers to play a spirited, smashmouth, physical game was to put ONE player into the lineup who can hit, fight and back up his teammates.

Imagine if they had added TWO at the deadline.

Agreed as much as i would not want Glass to play he made himself known on the ice last night, he actually inspired a few of the Rangers to play a little more physical. He also had a nice pass to Captain Back Monkey Vesey who could not tap it in.

I seem to remember a couple of years where Glass played on the fourth line, and we had the exact same complaints about the team not being physical, so I'm going to have to reserve giving Glass all the credit for turning this team around, based on a single game.

I love a good tilt, so do most players. And it can be inspiring to see and it can light a fire under a team, anyone that's played understands that. Ask JT Miller he loved it. I hate a dip**** like the Tampa turd with his helmet and half shield glued to his head fighting. Always thought they should get a extra 2 for fighting with a shield on. It's such a advantage over a guy without one.

I seem to remember a couple of years where Glass played on the fourth line, and we had the exact same complaints about the team not being physical, so I'm going to have to reserve giving Glass all the credit for turning this team around, based on a single game.

No one is giving Glass credit for turning anything around. Simply stated the obvious which is Glass presence inspired a more physical brand of hockey for that game. It may be erased from their memories tonight but for one night it was fun to watch the team play.

I seem to remember a couple of years where Glass played on the fourth line, and we had the exact same complaints about the team not being physical, so I'm going to have to reserve giving Glass all the credit for turning this team around, based on a single game.

Glass played last night as if his days in the NHL depended upon it. He didn't play like that for the most part during those seasons that you refer to. I remember them as well. So we'll see if he continues to play like that. Perhaps he realizes that the next couple of months may be his last stretch in the bigs. Either way, the team played its best, most engaged game in months last night.

I seem to remember a couple of years where Glass played on the fourth line, and we had the exact same complaints about the team not being physical, so I'm going to have to reserve giving Glass all the credit for turning this team around, based on a single game.

Glass played last night as if his days in the NHL depended upon it. He didn't play like that for the most part during those seasons that you refer to. I remember them as well. So we'll see if he continues to play like that. Perhaps he realizes that the next couple of months may be his last stretch in the bigs. Either way, the team played its best, most engaged game in months last night.

They ALL need to play like their NHL days depend on each game. We'd win the cup every year.

It's the same country-club mentality that existed in the UFA hey days of the early 2000s. The same vets get trotted out there game after game, regardless of if they were playing well or not, because AV doesn't have the balls to bench vets.

When he does bench someone, it's a younger guy, and honestly for all the sh!t he takes for doing that, it often works. Miller was benched earlier this year and he came roaring back. Same with Skjei. But Girardi has an off-month, or Klein or Staal, or Nash goes cold for 2 weeks, and it's business as usual.

I need to get over the idea that the NHL is a meritocracy, because at least on the Rangers, it's clearly not. But if they were able to get closer to one, if the guys who deserved to play played more, and paychecks and contracts became a secondary consideration instead of a primary one, this team would be a whole lot better.

Which is what Duguay has been saying. The Rangers are a good team, but they've taken their foot off the gas. They haven't clinched a playoff spot, but they going to be in the playoffs.... these games don't matter as much because of the work they puy in early in the year. They were winning in spite of poor goaltending.